Tombstone epitaph., 1887-10-29


 lead and silver. These, by the action of the air, were changed to oxides and sul phurets, with some chloride, becoming thereby in measure free milling ore. If the deposit continues below water level the ores will be found as sulphides; the percentage of silver will, doubtless, materially decrease and the ore become more refractory.
 Some small samples of ore found in the old workings assayed as high a. SS4o6I per ton, while great bodies of ore were worthless.
 From the assays is may be seen that very rich ores were found here and mined in some quantity, but notwithstanding this richness of ores, the 'concentration" claimed below water level, and the nat ural decrease of water acknowledged bv Mir. McGovern, the foreman, this prop erty is and has been idle for long time, while work is being prosecuted on the low grade ores of the By Chance and Lone Will, assays from which were given above. This, taken in connection with MT. Elmore's statement that he was pushed to make expenses, places the matter where the only inference that can be drawn is that the ore body is exhausted.
 After visiting the other mines and giv- ing a detailed account of the character and output of each mine, General Sayr sums up as follows:
 THE VERDICT OF THE ToRTILITA. MT. Elmore stated that the property was no more than paying running ex- penses. He represented the monthly expenditure a, about S7,oeS exclusive of his salary, which is probably about $500 per month or say in round numbers Sz.s o.
 From all that I could learn doubt if the monthly shipment of bullion reach es this amount. The company's adver- tisement shows one shipment of 2,4oo ounces, but claim it as the result of IS days work. If this were the case Mir |. Elmore could not only easily pay current expenses, but would soon accumulate sufficient surplus with which to erect the needed mill capacity and holster. The monthly capacity of the mill, according to the man in charge, is 300 tons-3oo tons, producing 2,4oo ounces, gives a product of eight ounces, g .6S per ton, which, putting all statements together, is doubtless very near the facts in the case.
 In a conversation one of the most in. telligent employees said that the property was looked upon by all of them as a ''prospec,," that he had repeatedly urged its systematic development instead of the present desullory work, and iii, were hi. he would at once prove its character and consequent value sr abandon it.
 The engineer who accompanied me in the examination expressed himself as surprised that the property should bs called mine or mines, and doubted il the shares could be sold at Tucson al at twenty-five cents, or even at an, price.
 From my examination, the assays here in given and the general knowledge at tained by the property, arrived at tn. following conclusions:
 l First-That some very good ore i: found in the Tortilitas. but nothing tha would warrant their greatly overes,ima ted productive value.
 Second-That no lock or body of or, has as yet been found to warrant calling the property more than prospect.
 Third-That as a prospect it has {, present value only equal to the amour that a practical miner would be willing tt risk in its development.
 | In conclusion, cannot leave this sub ject without referring to the advertise mens .f this property, now appearing ir the East and South.
 In this we find such statements as the following:
 The great value has been demon strated by new and continuous discover les of vast bodies of ore.
 The shares are an absolute security as they are based on property wortt many times what they call for.
 They are an investment pure and sim- pie.
 "A we'll known gentleman from tn. East" is made to report as flows We then returned ant went down lift, feet further, and there measured a breast ot ore tor,y two and half feet wide, from which took satnples to the mill and saw worked, yielding an average of $50 per ton. Here water was encountered an in three places along the line of this ve;r below ore has been uncovered and the vein shown to be fur fee, wide and of un. known length and depth.. This demon- strates the great value of this property. for as all mining men know the concen- tration below the water level proves the permanency and value of mine. could see thousands of tons of ore in sight that only needs sufficient mill capacity to produce unlimited quantities of bullion" 's~-